Sir Donald Insall RWA 1926-2026
Donald Insall was a giant amongst historic building architects, making a huge contribution to the understanding of buildings as living history, however it would be wrong to write about Donald without celebrating his delightful character, good humour and generosity of spirit.
He was a proud son of Bristol, a pupil of Bristol Grammar School, a student at the RWA School of Architecture and a long standing RWA Academician. He last came to exhibit his evocative drawings and watercolours and give an inspiring talk at the RWA aged 90 and was a spritely as ever – although he had just retired from riding his BMW motorbike, no doubt to his wife Libby’s relief.
Insall grew up amid the destruction wrought by the Second World War. The bombing of Bristol, which damaged or destroyed many historic churches and buildings, combined with his father commissioning a new house had made a lasting impression and helped shape his lifelong commitment to architecture and conservation.
He interrupted his studies at the RWA School to serve with the Coldstream Guards from 1944-48 when he returned to complete his qualification. He pursued further studies in civic design and planning at the Royal Academy in London giving him a much wider grasp of the conservation, not just of buildings but of places. A subsequent scholarship with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) introduced him to traditional crafts and the practical skills and ethos essential to the repair of historic structures.
In 1958, he founded Donald Insall Associates with fellow conservationist Peter Locke. At a time when post-war redevelopment too often favoured demolition and replacement, Insall championed a much more thoughtful approach of adapting historic buildings for contemporary use whilst preserving their character and significance.
His landmark 1968 study, Chester: A Study in Conservation, became a highly influential model for urban conservation. Based on surveys of more than 400 buildings, it demonstrated how historic streets and architecture could be protected while allowing a city to evolve. His work helped establish the modern role of the conservation consultant and influenced approaches to historic urban centres across Britain.
Among the practice’s most notable projects were the restoration of Windsor Castle following the devastating fire of 1992, work at William Morris’s Kelmscott Manor and Robert Adam’s Kedleston Hall.
Insall was a founding commissioner of English Heritage when it was established in 1984. His book Living Buildings, published in 2008, set out his philosophy that conservation should be a flexible tool, to enable historic buildings to stay relevant and appreciated and to serve future generations.
He famously distinguished conservation from preservation, quipping that preservation was “what you do for marmalade”.
He was awarded a CBE in 1995 and knighted in 2010, but remained down to earth and an excellent communicator until the end. Two years ago, at the age of 98, he was awarded the inaugural lifetime achievement award by Building Design Magazine. During his acceptance speech, he proclaimed that while he was guilty of the ‘life-long’ part, the ‘achievements’ belonged to everyone in the practice.
Donald’s motto, which he certainly lived by, was ‘Bring forth the Best’. He brought forth the best in so many ways, in enthusing young people in the art of conservation, in building an outstanding team at Donald Insall Associates and in helping us all to learn the true meaning and practice of historic building conservation.
Written by George Ferguson RWA and Chair of the Trustees, Royal West of England Academy (RWA).
Image Donald Insall aged 98 at the presentation of the Building Design Lifetime Achievement Award with his wife Libby and Karl Singporewala RWA who presented the award